Bees

[yola]

There is a PDF available about beekeeping and allotments but it's only accessible by members

[Kazz]

I love bee's my Mom has said her Great Grandad used to keep them she said, he'd always tell them the bee's of births and deaths and weddings in the family......My Mom recalls him giving the bee's cake when there was a family wedding. And wine/sherry/christmas cake when Christmas.He used to knock on the hive "she thinks with the door key" if there was a death in the family too. And say something like "Bee's, Bee's, bee's your Master's brother is dead" She also says that he would not let anyone shout or argue around the bee hives....as it upset them and they may then abandon the hives although he said The bee's enjoyed the childrens laughter and anyone who sang by the hives was welcomed.He often spent his time up at the hives singing hymns and my Mom said he died when she was about 7 her grandad told the bee's of his death and when the new beekeeper a friend of his came to collect them...the bee's were gone all of them.....yet when her Dad my grandad said he would have taken the hives....they walked out to the garden (which would now be classed as a small holding)which was in rural kidderminster.....the bee's were back at the hive no one knew where they had been or when they came back. And Mom recalls the bee's staying in the field near their home till the war when the bee's were evactuated back to the small holding. He also told her bee's could not be brought for money only a gold coin... however they could be got from loaning them out or bartering the or as a gift.

[Elaine]

Awww, I loved reading that Kazz, thanx for sharing with us xxx

[dinahsmum]

That's lovely bee folklore Kazz.
Remember the bees in the TV adaptation of Larrrkrise to Candleforrrd (how I loved that, so sweet and gentle - the worst thing to happen was the loss of a parrrrcel. Well, not quite) and how they were agitated at the old boy's (Strider? What was his name) illness.

[yola]

Great story Karen! I have heard much about the mysterious properties of bee-keeping . . . there is something of a magic about it. I would personally be scared to have them on an allotment, especially here where we do suffer from plagues of chavs who have no respect for such things and could do damage to a hive/bees.

[Elaine]

I am loving the idea of bee keeping more and more but wouldnt be able to have them here, sadly. Maybe one day...

[Kazz]

I think I would like to keep bee's to but they need a horizontal take off area they need a largish flat area around them to take off. They are not the most areodynamic of flyers.

[Kazz]

I know you can be loaned bee's by established bee keepers....they just "keep their hives" on your ground/garden. they manage the hives.

I know the honey is dependant on what floers are around for the bee's to use....ie if you have lavender fields the honey is different, take on the taste of the orginal food source.

[Mags]

Loved your story Kazz

I always have a jar or bottle of 'runny' honey in my cupboard, both myself and OH love it. I use it in cakes, puddings, on bread and for medicinal purposes .....

[angieh]

Wonderful story Kazz - honey bees are nature's miracle workers - hope something can be done to redress their decline.